JOB REPORT / 53-2021 · 23 TASKS

Air Traffic Controllers.

Can AI do the work of Air Traffic Controllers?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare…
Review records or reports for clarity and completeness…
Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages…

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Air Traffic Controllers work. It covers the 18 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

18 of 23 tasks reviewed

This job has 23 core tasks. We went through 18 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Air Traffic Controllers actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
AI DOES
Sorts incoming flight plans, spots schedule conflicts, and highlights priority traffic
YOU DO
Make final spacing and sequencing decisions when weather, emergencies, or delays change the picture
TASK 02
Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law.
AI DOES
Flags incomplete fields, checks formatting, and drafts routine report sections
YOU DO
Verify accuracy against live flight data and take legal responsibility for records
TASK 03
Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
AI DOES
Auto-fills report templates and organizes message logs from recorded data
YOU DO
Verify every detail is correct before signing off on safety records
TASK 04
Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information.
AI DOES
Gathers and summarizes weather, turbulence reports, and route data into a draft briefing
YOU DO
Verify all safety-critical info and take legal responsibility for the briefing
TASK 05
Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes.
AI DOES
Aggregates weather reports, calculates fuel needs, and flags optimal route options from maps and data
YOU DO
Apply real-time judgment, override AI suggestions, and take legal responsibility for safety-critical routing decisions
TASK 06
Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
AI DOES
Highlights traffic conflicts, predicts flight paths, and surfaces alerts on radar displays
YOU DO
Keep authority over all clearances and handle unexpected situations in real time
TASK 07
Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
AI DOES
Logs handoff data, flags conflicts, and drafts coordination messages between facilities
YOU DO
Own every live safety call and adapt instantly to changing conditions
TASK 08
Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.
AI DOES
Pulls and displays flight data like altitude, course, and arrival time on screens automatically
YOU DO
Verify accuracy and relay critical info live with full situational awareness
TASK 09
Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
AI DOES
Pulls real-time weather, flight data, and navigation alerts to feed the controller
YOU DO
Make the live radio call and judge what a pilot needs right now
TASK 10
Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
AI DOES
Displays altitude traffic, weather, and separation data on screen automatically
YOU DO
Make the final safety judgment and talk directly with pilots in real time
TASK 11
Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
AI DOES
Surfaces suggested headings and spacing based on traffic data
YOU DO
Own every live clearance and adapt instantly to changing skies
TASK 12SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.
AI DOES
Pulls and sorts flight data from multiple sources
YOU DO
Spot patterns and judge what needs action
About this analysis
42% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 13
Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
AI DOES
Monitors flight data, flags handoff timing, and surfaces alerts on screen
YOU DO
Own every live decision and legal responsibility for each handoff
TASK 14
Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
AI DOES
Pulls together radar data, flight logs, and last known positions quickly
YOU DO
Keep making live calls and decisions with pilots, crews, and rescue teams in real time
TASK 15
Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
AI DOES
Displays radar data, flags potential conflicts, and surfaces weather alerts on screen
YOU DO
Make the final call and speak clearly to pilots in real time
TASK 16
Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
AI DOES
Flags potential conflicts, suggests routing options, and displays traffic data on screens
YOU DO
Keep final authority over every clearance and safety call
TASK 17
Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
AI DOES
Displays traffic flow data and flags potential conflicts on radar screens
YOU DO
Stay in the loop for every live clearance — you own each call
TASK 18
Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
AI DOES
Helps build training materials, quizzes, and study guides
YOU DO
Stay present on the floor and coach trainees through live traffic in real time

START LEARNING AI

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Air Traffic Controllers
SOC code: 53-2021
Tasks reviewed: 18 of 23

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $148,080 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $177,380 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 22,510
Employed in Colorado: 740
Job outlook: +1.2% by 2034 · ~2,200 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.

Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law.

Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.

Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information.

Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes.

Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.

Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.

Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.

Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.

Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.

Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.

Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.

Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.

Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.

Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.

Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.

Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.

Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.